CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Larry Brown wanted a chance to resurrect his vagabond, Hall of Fame coaching career. Michael Jordan needed a veteran teacher and a big hire to rescue his sinking reputation as an NBA executive.

The two former North Carolina players teamed up Tuesday when Jordan introduced Brown as coach of the Charlotte Bobcats — his ninth NBA job.

The 67-year-old Brown replaces Sam Vincent, whom Jordan hired last year despite no NBA head coaching experience. Vincent, who was fired Saturday, struggled to find consistent rotations and clashed with players in a 32-50 season.

Brown won the NBA championship with Detroit in 2004 and the NCAA title with Kansas in 1988. He resigned last week as executive vice president of the Philadelphia 76ers, and agent Joe Glass indicated Brown wanted to return to coaching.

Turkoglu most improved player

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hedo Turkoglu, whose 19 points, five rebounds and five assists per game helped the Orlando Magic win their first division title in 12 years, was selected as the NBA’s most improved player.

Turkoglu’s numbers marked career highs in each category, and dramatic improvements from 13 points, four rebounds and three assists last season. He earned back-to-back Eastern Conference player of the week awards in late January and early February and was named player of the month for April.

Turkoglu received 61 first-place votes and 380 points in the voting by a panel of American and Canadian sports journalists, well ahead of Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay, who earned 167 points, 23 for first-place, and the Portland Trailblazers’ LaMarcus Aldridge with 128 points and nine first-place votes.

HOCKEY

Flyers take lead in series

PHILADELPHIA — “Mar-ty! “Mar-ty!” “Mar-ty!”

That’s a sound the Flyers want to hear all the way to the Stanley Cup.

Martin Biron stopped 32 shots and the Flyers scored three goals in the second period to beat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 on Monday night, taking a 2-1 lead in their second-round series.

Game 4 is Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Mike Richards, R.J. Umberger and Scottie Upshall all scored goals on the first six shots of the second against 20-year-old Carey Price.

BASEBALL

Posada makes first trip to DL

CLEVELAND — The New York Yankees took the field missing a familiar face: Jorge Posada, the club’s proud catcher and one of its leaders, was in Alabama getting his injured right shoulder examined.

Posada was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his career, ending a remarkable run of durability at baseball’s most physically demanding position. The 36-year-old, who has caught at least 137 games in each of the past eight seasons, finally succumbed to pain in his shoulder that he had been feeling for most of the season’s first month.

FOOTBALL

Bernard signs with Rams

ST. LOUIS — The list of 12 free agents signed by the St. Louis Rams on Monday includes Oregon State running back Yvenson Bernard, who ran for the winning 2-point conversion against Missouri in the 2006 Sun Bowl.

The 5-foot-8, 204-pound Bernard totaled 3,862 rushing yards, second in school history, and was one of two running backs added to the Rams roster. St. Louis also signed Kansas’ 238-pound fullback Brandon McAnderson, who rushed for 1,125 yards and 16 touchdowns last year.

If Bernard makes the roster, he will be a backup to Steven Jackson, the player he replaced in Corvallis.

In other moves by NFLteams, Oregon State players Kyle Devan, an offensive lineman, and Dorian Smith, a defensive end, both agreed to deals with Washington following the draft, while former Oregon receiver Cameron Colvin agreed to a deal with San Francisco.